Ancient Technology In Peru And Bolivia

David Hatcher Childress, popular Lost Cities author and star of the History Channel's long-running show Ancient Aliens, takes us to the mysterious ruins in the mountains of Peru and Bolivia in search of ancient technology and the secrets of megalith building. In his new book, packed with photos and diagrams, Childress examines the amazing stone cutting at Puma Punku near the ancient ruins of Tiwanaku near Lake Titicaca in Bolivia. He looks at whether the so-called "Inca walls"–found in Cuzco and at other sites such as Sacsayhuaman, Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu–were really made by the Incas. The evidence seems to support the idea that they were actually constructed by a far older culture. Childress examines the megalithic construction and underground chambers of Chavin in the Cordillera Blanca of Peru, possibly the oldest megalithic site in South America; he speculates on the existence of a sunken city in Lake Titicaca and reveals new evidence that the Sumerians may have arrived in South America over 4,000 years ago. Childress demonstrates that the use of "keystone cuts" with metal clamps poured into them to secure megalithic construction was an advanced technology used all over the world, from the Andes to Egypt, Greece and Southeast Asia. He maintains that only power tools could have made the intricate articulation and drill holes found in extremely hard granite and basalt blocks in Bolivia and Peru, and that the megalith builders had to have had advanced methods for moving and stacking gigantic blocks of stone, some weighing over 100 tons. The incredible high-tech world of South America is illuminated in the informative and breezy style that Childress has been known for in his books and his appearances on television shows like Ancient Aliens.

David Hatcher Childress, known as the real-life Indiana Jones to the many fans of his books, is a captivating speaker and the author or coauthor of over 25 books. He has traveled the world several times over, seeking adventure and the answers to the mysteries of mankind's past.

Born in France in 1957 and raised in the mountains of Colorado and Montana, David's curiosity about the world was piqued at a young age. He attended the University of Montana where his studies in oriental culture and philosophy led him to a job teaching English in Taiwan. In 1976, David left the United States on what would become a six-year research and adventure odyssey. During this time, he studied first-hand the ancient civilizations of Africa, the Middle East and China, sometimes journeying into dangerous territory along the way (like Uganda during the overthrow of Idi Amin).

After more than 40 years of investigating these arcane subjects, David finds his unique views and ideas gaining popularity. He is currently a co-star on the History Channel show Ancient Aliens. This popular show is now in its eleventh season and David journeys to Peru, Bolivia and Mexico for episodes of the show. He has appeared on Fox-TV's Sightings and Encounters, two NBC-TV specials, The Conspiracy Zone, and segments for the Discovery Channel, A&E, the Sci-Fi Channel, the Disney Channel, The Travel Channel and others. David also appeared on the Canadian television show Weird or What?, hosted by William Shatner, in its 2011-2012 season. He is also a frequent guest on nationally syndicated radio shows. He continues to explore, write and excite people about discovery through his magazine, World Explorer, and his publishing company, Adventures Unlimited Press. When not traveling, he divides his time between his homes in Illinois and Arizona. He has bookstores open to the public in both locations.